Police investigate killing of Punjab queer influencer Mad Sandhu
Makeup artist and LGBTQA+ influencer Mad Sandhu was shot dead in Amritsar by unidentified attackers, prompting an investigation and concern among queer groups. Police said online claims of responsibility could not yet be authenticated, while activists warned the killing and reported threats could deepen insecurity for Punjab’s queer community.
Police in Amritsar are investigating the killing of LGBTQA+ influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu, who was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-borne attackers on Saturday evening. Sandhu, whose official name was Madhusudan, was killed on Loharka Road, a busy commercial and residential area. Reports circulated after the shooting that social media accounts had claimed responsibility, but the posts were no longer available.
One alleged claim was linked to an account named Goldy Dhillon. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Harmanbir Singh Gill said officers could not verify the authenticity of the posts because they had been published from abroad. He said investigators were examining multiple possible angles and expected to solve the case.
Sandhu had more than 232,000 Instagram followers and founded Mane Lane Unisex Salon. He also appeared in the film Oye Bhola Oye 2, in songs including Ragda and in the web series Youth Kartoot. The killing has prompted concern among LGBTQA+ groups and political voices in Punjab.
Manu, a member of the Queering in Chandigarh collective, said the community was horrified and that queer people had received threats from anonymous accounts. Manu described the killing as possibly the first such crime against a member of Punjab’s LGBTQA+ community, while noting a longer history of discrimination and ridicule. Dhananjay Chauhan, described as the first transgender student enrolled at Panjab University, said the murder could intimidate the wider LGBTQA+ community.
She also argued that existing legal protections do not adequately cover LGBTQA+ people from rape. The Punjab Feminist Union of Students said threats against queer people were not new. Member Harpuneet Kaur linked the concerns to the cancellation of Amritsar’s 2025 Pride march after opposition from radical Sikh groups.
The founders of Amritsar Pride did not respond to requests for comment, citing safety concerns, according to the report.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.